Journal box



y 30, 1939- J. c MADISIONL JOURNAL BOX Filed Aug. 2:5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm 16507 Jedi. mz'e fll (Wadi-s0 LID/$7 Q/Va May 30, 1939.

J. O. MADISON JOURNAL BOX Filed Aug. 25. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllll |.||||l Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED. STATES PATENT oer-lee JOURNAL BOX Maryland Application August 23, 1935, Serial No. 37,583

6 Claims.

This invention relates to journal boxes and more particularly to an improved journal box lid.

The principal object of the invention, generally Considered, is the provision of a resilient latch for exerting downward force on the bottom edge portion of an associated preferably articulated lid, to minimize the up and down or sliding vibratory motion of the lid with respect to the box.

Another object of the invention is the employment of a resilient latch extending from the bottom of an articulated journal box lid, and hooking over the portion of the journal box defining the lower wall thereof, for pulling downward on the lower portion of said lid, cushioning the vertical rebound, and holding the lid tight against the tendency to vibrate or oscillate upand down on the engaged face of the journal box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lid latch which performs the function of the'usual hook hold while at the same time resisting vertical vibration and reducing consequent wear of the lid on the engaged'faces of the journal box.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention desirably comprises certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described in the specification, illustrated in the drawings, and defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts,

Figure l is an elevational View of one form of articulated lid embodying the invention, a portion of the hood being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of another form of articulated lid embodying the invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

In the development of journal box lids, early forms, in which the lid was merely pivoted to the top of the associated journal box and springpressed in place, have been improved by the development of what is designated an articulated lid. By this is meant a lid in which the portion serving as a closure for the access opening of a journal box is movably connected to a hood or intermediate member which. is, in turn, pivotally mounted on the box. ratherthan-being directly pivoted to said box. By forming this indirect connection between the closure member or lid proper and the journal box provision is made for equalization between the lid and the box, so that all edge portions of the lid are pressed into uniformly tight engagement with the edge portions of the box defining the access opening.

With an articulated type of lid, a greater amount of play is naturally allowed between the lid and box, resulting in the development of an appreciable amount of up and down vibration or sliding movement of the lid over the engaged face of the box, thereby inducing excessive wear and the necessity for premature lid replacement and box repairs. The invention is designed to overcome such excessive wear by reducing and practically eliminating the cause.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and

first considering the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a portion of a journal box I having a hinge lug 2 extending from the upper wall or roof thereof, and to which a journal box lid assembly 3 is pivotally connected as by means of a hinge pin or pintle 4. In the present embodiment, the invention has been associated with an articulated lid assembly of the type described and claimed in the Barrows Patent No. 1,980,965 of November 13, 1934. V

The lid assembly comprises a closure member or lid proper 5, a hood or'spring housing member 6, and connecting equalizing means 1, said equalizing means being preferably pivotally mounted on a lug 8 outstanding from the front adjustably held in assembled relation with respect to the closure member 5.

The lid assembly 3 is shown pivoted to the box I by means of the hinge pin 4 extending through perforated ears or hinge portions Id of the hood 6, rather than through corresponding portions of the lid proper, said pin being held in locked position in any desired manner. A torsion spring l6, preferably comprising a pair of coiled or helical spring portions l1, normally rests on curved seat portions l8, of the hood 6, and has an intermediate loop or upwardly extending portion I9 protected by a wear plate 20 normally engaging the hinge lug 2. The free ends 2! of the spring are desirably received in corresponding pockets or apertures 22 in the connecting casting 1,, said apertures being desirably disposed adjacent trunnion portions l3 of said casting. The closure member 5 is preferably depressed or pocketed, as indicated at 23, to receive the adjacent portions of the coils H. The lid proper 5 has an oil drip flange 24 extending across the lower portion thereof and also serving to rigidify the construction.

Relative movement between the spring and hood, particularly when the lid assembly isdisconnected from the box, is desirably limited by having the wear plate 20 formed with outstanding strap or loop portions 25, and'the hood ,6 may be provided with a rivet or pin 2? passing through the loop portion 26, with the desired clearance therebetween, permitting all desired movement of the spring while preventing excessive movement.

It will be clear that such a lid provides for the application of pressureto the central portion of the closure member, while permitting adjustment so that thepressure is equally distributed around the peripheral portion of the box defining the access opening. On account of the double amount of play provided between the closure member 5 and the box I, by having said closure member pivotally connected to the hood 6 which is, in turn, pivotally connected to the box I, said lid is subjected to vertical vibratory orsliding movement on the engaged face ofthe box I, when the associated vehicle is in motion, resulting in excessive wear, as compared with the non-articulated type of lid.

In order to overcome this trouble, there is provided a spring latch 28, desirably of the form shown in the drawings, the upper end portion 29 of which is widened. to allow for rivet holes and securely connected tothe lower portion of the lid proper :5, preferably by a pair of rivets 3!]v extendingthrough saidlid above the drip flange 2 3, in order to allow suliicient length of spring, desirably bent on acircular arc ofrelativey large radius to provide the desired resiliency, between the connection {With the lid and depending lip or lug 3! provided on the lower wallof the box I, and over which the lower end oi the loop portion 320ithe spring hooks. The lower wall; of the box is desirably inwardly enclosed or'offset below the lug 3|, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to economize space-inproviding for the reception of thelat-ch 28;

The spring 28 is desirably extended beyond the lug-engaging portion 321by being bent downwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 33, until a portion thereof normally contactsthe main-loop portion 32, from whence it is bent downward about av short radius, toprovide the free end portion 34 which serves for manuallyv releasing the lid or for receiving a packing hook for that purpose. By extending the spring as illustrated, rather than by stopping it short after engaging the lug 3 I a lever armis provided for facilitating release and operation of the lid.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure-s 3 and 4, there is shown a portion of a journal box l having a hinge lug 2 extending from the upper wall or root thereof and'to which'a journal box lid assembly 3 is pivotally connected as by means of a hinge'pin or pintle t Inthe present embodiment, the invention is shown associated'with an articulated lid assembly of the type described and claimed in the Barrows Patent No. 1,868,405 of July 19, 1932.

The lid assembly comprises a cover or closure portion 5 a hood, carrier member, spring-pressing, or hinging portion 6 a lever or actuating portion 35 and a spring it for actuating said lever. The lid ispivotally connected to the box through the hood or hinging portion 6 by having the pintle l extend through corresponding apertures in the hinge lug and ears or loops I l ofthe hood 6*. The lever 35 cooperates with the angularly disposed faces 36 and 31 on the hinge lug 2 to hold'the lid as a whole in either open or closed position, as will be understood.

The; cover 5 which may be conveniently formed by pressingfrom a flat sheet of metal, is adapted to closely engage the outer edge of the box i defining; the access opening along all four sides thereof, and the upper edge of said cover is desirably bent downwardly over the outer edge of the roof portion, of the box, where said edge is not protected-by the hood or hinge portion 6 of the lid. The down-turned edge of the lid is preferably continued along the sides and bottom thereof as indicated, except at the portion of the lower wall of the box provided with the depending latch lug 31 Preferably centrally disposed of the closure member 5 is a socket or recessed portion B with which a correspondingembossed or ball-shaped portion H! of the preferably cast hood member 6 cooperates for allowing universal motion of the cover portion 5 to a limited degree, whereby seating thereof along'the periphery of the journal box. defining the access opening is assured. The concave orjopposite side of the ball-shaped or spherical portion Hi -of the hood forms a socket portion which is adaptedto, and when assembled does, receive the ball-shaped end portion 7 of the preferably cast actuating lever 35, thereby form-' ing, ineffect, a ball and socket joint, allowing for universal angling to a limited degree between the cover, lever and, the hood member of the lid assembly.

The cover 8 the hood 6 and'the lever 35 are connected in cooperative arrangement, as illustrated, by a pin- 38 extending through registering aperturesin theassociated parts and securecl'in position by cotters or any desired fastening means 39 extending through end portions thereof. The pin-receiving apertures are large enough to provide the desired clearance for limited universal angling, and, when assembled, the coil spring I6 serves to urge the lever 35 against the cooperating faces of the hinge lug, as will be understood.

As in the previous embodiment, the lid of the present embodiment provides for the application of pressure to the central portion of the closure member and for permitting adjustment to equally distribute said pressure around the peripheral portion of the box defining the ac cessopening. In order to overcome or subdue vertical vibratory or sliding movement of the lid on the engaged face of the box, when the associated vehicle is in motion, there is provided a spring latch 28 similar to that of the preceding embodiment, as illustrated, the upper end portion 29 of which is widened to allow for rivet holes, and securely connected to the lower portion of the lid proper i by a pair of rivets 39 extending through saidlid above the drip flange 25* of an angle iron Ml, one of said rivets desirably serving as a common connecting means for the latch and angle iron 40, that is, as one of the means securing said angle iron to the lid.

By positioning the lower rivet 30 at the indicated distance above the lower edge of the lid and the associated latch lug 3| on the box, there has been allowed for a length of spring which may be bent on a circular arc of relatively large radius to provide the desired resiliency between the connection with the lid and latch lug 3f on the box 1*, the lower portion of the loop 32* desirably seating on the lower face of said lug 3W, which thereby forms an abutment on which the desired vertical pressure is applied for drawing the lid downwardly and minimizing any vibratory sliding motion thereof.

The spring latch 28 is desirably extended beyond the lug-engaging portion 32 by being bent downwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 33 until a portion thereof normally contacts the main loop portion 32 from whence it is bent downward about a short radius to provide the free end or lever portion 34 for the same purpose as in the preceding embodiment.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a lid latch has been devised, said latch being particularly adapted for use with an articulated journal box lid for pulling the lower edge portion of said lid downward and eliminating or minimizing any up and down vibration or oscillation on the fengaged face of the journal box, thereby substantially eliminating or minimizing any wear between said engaged parts. Although preferred embodiments have been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a journal box having an access opening, an articulated lid pivoted to said box for closing said opening and including resilient means for holding said lid in open or closed position, said box having a lug extending downwardly from the edge portion at the lower wall thereof adjacent said lid, and a resilient member firmly secured to the outer face adjacent the lower edge portion of said lid and normally engaging said lug for exerting downward force on said lid and decreasing the tendency to up and down vibration when in service; said resilient member having a rigidly attached portion extending substantially vertically below said lug to form an actuating member.

2. In combination with a journal box having an access opening and 9. depending lug on the lower wall thereof adjacent said opening, a lid mounted on said box for closing said opening and including resilient means for holding said lid in open or closed position, and a latchcomprising a strip of spring metal, the. upper end portion of which is secured to the lower portion of the lid by a plurality of rivets, said latch being decreased in width and curved outwardly, downwardly and inwardly from the connection with said lid, so that the lower portion normally engages said lug, said latch, below the point of engagement with said lug, being bent downwardly to and outwardly upon itself, and then bent downwardly about a short radius to provide a lever arm for manual operation.

3. A journal box lid including resilient means for holding it open or closed over the access opening of an associated journal box, and a latch with an upper end portion secured to the lower portion of said lid, said latch comprising a strip of spring metal decreased in width below the point at which it is secured to said lid and curved outwardly, downwardly and inwardly about a relatively large radius to provide a lower portion adapted to hook over a lug on an associated box, the material of said latch being bent backward upon itself below said hook portion and then bent downwardly about a short radius to provide a lever arm for manual operation.

4. In combination with 'a journal box lid, a latch comprising a strip of spring metal wider at one end than the other, said wider end having apertures for receiving connecting rivets, a portion of said latch between said wider portion and the other end being bent to arcuate form about a relatively large radius, the portion of said latch adjacent the free end of the narrower portion being bent backwardly on itself and then outwardly away from said arcuate portion to provide an actuating arm; said latch tending to decrease a vertical movement of the lid with respect to an associated journal box.

5. In combination with a journal box lid, a latch formed as an integral strip of spring metal with an upper straight portion apertured for receiving connecting means, the portion of said latch between said straight portion and the other end being arcuate about a relatively large radius, the lower part of said arcuate portion being adapted to resiliently engage the lower surface of the bottom wall of an associated journal box, that portion of the latch below said arcuate portion being bent downwardly therefrom, then back upon itself to engage an intermediate part of said arcuate portion, and then outwardly thereaway to provide an actuating arm; said latch serving to decrease a vertical motion of the lid with respect to said box.

6. In combination with a journal box lid comprising resilient means for holding it open or closed over the access opening of an associated journal box, a latch rigidly secured to the lower portion of the lid and engaging a portion of the journal box for decreasing the up .and down sliding vibration of the lid on the engaged face of the box, said latchcomprising an integral strip 

